Our photographer Joe Laverty recently popped down to capture the latest installment of Belfast threatre-in-pub venture Shot Glass at the Black Box.
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One of our featured 15 for ’15 acts, Dublin noise-pop duo Princess are truly riding the crest of a wave at the minute. Ahead of shows at Belfast’s Woodworkers on Saturday, April 11 (free), Galway’s Roisin Dubh on April 16 and Limerick’s Kasbah Social Club the following night, we chat to Liam Mesbur from the band about their increasingly enthralling sound and direction. Hi guys. I remember featuring ‘Tortured Wings’ in a BBC Ulster radio segment two years ago. Your sounds has really developed since then. What do you owe that to? When we did that tune it was myself writing everything and…
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Several new acts have been added to the bill for this year’s Indiependence festival, which is set to return to Deer Farm in Mitchelstown, Cork, across the weekend of July 31 to August 2. With the likes of the Mark Lanegan Band, Ash and Jape already confirmed, Basement Jaxx, Kodaline, Hamsandwich, Foy Vance, The Young Folk and Elastic Sleep (pictured) are amongst the latest additions. With more acts set to be announced, check out the current line-up below and go here to buy tickets for the festival.
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In the latest installment of Front of House, we talk to Belfast-based freelance sound engineer Bernard Flanagan about starting out, his typical work day and working with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Therapy? Photos by Liam Kielt. Hi there. Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Bernard Flanagan and I’m originally from Maghera. I have lived in Belfast on and off for 10yrs. I have also lived in London and Glasgow. How did you become a sound engineer and how long have you been involved in it? I have been in the music industry since I was 14-15.…
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Dublin’s Hangar team have announced the official launch party of their new venue, located on Andrews Lane, in the heart of Dublin City. Having been “hard at work creating a new space, a new cultural hub ready to cater to all types of music and events”, the venue – boasting a brand new, state of the art sound system – will kickstart on Aprll 17 with a MMOTHS (pictured) DJ/AV set (feat. Slipdraft), The Minutes and New Secret Weapon, with The Building Society DJ’s taking over upstairs. Tickets are extremely limited (300 advanced tickets) and only one ticket per person. RSVP here. First come, first served basis.
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Derry alt-rock quartet The Wood Burning Savages aren’t exactly ones to slack with their music videos. Take the engaging, narrative-driven visual accompaniments to previous singles ‘Boom’ and ‘America’ – two strong, wonderfully considered videos that really manage to drive Paul Connolly’s words home. Directed by Cillian Farrell and Sonni Ross , the band have just went one better with the video for new single ‘Lather, Rinse, Repeat’, an instantly captivating accompaniment to a track bursting with upbeat gusto and eager flair. Check that out below.
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Back in November, Dublin duo Phil Boughton and Daryl Chaney AKA Subplots played the first ever Higher Ground in the city’s spectacular Pepper Canister Church, a series of shows hosted by Hidden Agenda. According to Hidden Agenda, “These shows focus on showcasing the best international and local talent performing in alternative and spectacular venues across the country. Each act is carefully chosen on their musical and artistic merit with a focus on showing only the most exciting, innovative and creative acts from across the board.” Setting themselves apart from the get go, each of the shows are also filmed on the night and released…
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When he’s not busy running Dublin’s newest record shop, Little Gem Records or performing as part of both I Heart The Monster Hero and GODHATESDISCO, Andy Walsh has been concocting his own inimitable, solo sonic wizardry as White Sage. The first manifestation of that is the perfectly phantasmal Way Beyond our Means, a Kraut-echoing, decidedly experimental quartet of tracks, including lead single ‘Parnell Street June 1955’. Evoking the likes of Neu! and Fujiya and Miyagi, the track swaggers forth with its chugging groove, broad synth shapes and twinkling notes marrying in a swirl of blissed-out haze. Watch the simple yet very…
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Dublin’s Niall Jackson is as chameleonic and active a musician that you’re ever liable to meet. A member of the likes of Bouts – not to mention the man behind recent homeless charity supergroup Christmas Hearts – Jackson also fronts three-piece Swimmers, who launch their new EP, The Burning Circus, upstairs in Whelan’s on Saturday, April 25. The lead single from that is ‘Lose Myself’, a drifting, nostalgia-laced ode to personal freedom and wanderlust of the soul, recorded by Justin Commins of Kill Krinkle Club. Go here for the EP launch’s Facebook event page and stream the single below.
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Forging heady spiels of stream of consciousness with Mingusian sax forays, open-ended punk abandon and skilfully loose improvisation, Belfast’s Robocobra Quartet are right up there with the country’s very best live acts. Ahead of supporting Not Squares at Belfast’s Bar Sub tomorrow night – and appearing at our second birthday show at Dublin’s Twisted Pepper on Saturday, May 2 – the Chris Ryan-fronted four-piece have unveiled ’80-88′. the lead single from their new EP, Bomber (“‘four songs about three people, two novels, a failed assassination attempt and a volunteer-run community arts space” – obviously). We’ll soon have a premiere of the second single from the…